Music Matters - A Qualitative Evaluation of a Nurse-Led, Group-Based Music Program Complementary to Early Intervention for First-Episode Psychosis.

First-episode psychosis is a significant mental health condition that can have a profound and lasting effect on an individual's functional abilities and overall quality of life. While music therapy has shown promise in improving these areas, there is a lack of research exploring the impact of music groups led by mental health professionals without formal music therapy training in the context of early intervention in psychosis. This study aimed to conduct a qualitative evaluation of a once-weekly, 12-week, nurse-led music group, offered as an adjunct to early intervention in young people with first-episode psychosis. The specific objectives were to explore social interaction and experiences of participants and instructors in relation to the music group and provide focus points for implementation in clinical practice. The study utilized Interpretive Description, collecting data through participant observation (6 sessions × 1.5 hrs; 9 hrs in total), key informant interviews (